Mechanisms of the regulation of ester balance between oxidation and esterification in aged Baijiu

Abstract The influence of oxidation and esterification on the ester balance of aged Baijiu and methodology for the rational design of liquor flavors to optimize the practice of Baijiu production are not completely understood. We investigated the influence of ester balance on the flavor compounds of aged Baijiu by conducting constituent analysis of Baijiu from different aging times (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 years). The changes of the main flavor compounds in the aging process were determined, and the correlations among different chemical reactions, such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and esterification, were systematically expounded. Furthermore, cluster analysis of the heat map indicated significant differences between aged Baijiu and new Baijiu and recommended a suitable aging time of 2–3 years.